Cord processing apparatus



March 15, 1949. l.. s; HALL ErAL I2,464,502

CORD PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed July 3p, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 2 MTH 1N V EN TORS IHWUHNH.

By RAYMOND E. soLLlDAY ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE e 2,434,502 g conn raocnssmo APPARATUS Lindsay S. Hall, Pawtucket, vlt. I., and Raymond E. Solliday, Akron, Ohio, asslgnors to Wingtoct Corporation, Akron. Olli Delaware o, a corporation of Application July so, 194s, serial No. ssrn fibers.

Clalm. (Cl. 257-34) product in vulcanized rubber products such, for

example, as pneumatic tires and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will lbecome apparent as the description of one form of yapparatus illustrated in the f accompanying drawings Proceeds. v

While the apparatus'of the present invention y is adapted to be employed in the manufacture of thread, yarn, cord, and the like, it is particularly advantageously adapted to be employed in the production of reinforcing cord for use in the manufacture of tires, Ibelts, and other forms of mechanical rubber goods as well as other related products. A smooth burnished finish as well as a uniform gauge are desirable attributes of such cords. One of the important'considerations in the manufacture of reinforcing cord for tires and other cord-reinforced ruibber articles is the achievement of a material reduction in gauge and weight of the cord .without affecting its tensile strength.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means for producing a highquality thread characterized by a uniform gauge and tensile strength.

It is another object of the `present invention to provide a form of device which may be applied to conventional forms of stretching apparatus commonly employed in doubling and twisting machines for manufacturing thread, yarn,'cord, and the like characterized :by a smooth burnished iinish.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a partial end elevation of a typical form of doubler-twister aipparatus with which the device of the present invention is advantageously employed. Fig. 2 is an elevation at a somewhat larger scale of the stretching apparatus employed in the doublertwister machine illustrated in Fig. 1 showing a typical form of 'hurnishing apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention. Fig. 3l

is a :plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 as seen from the line 3-3 the'rein.

In Fig. l of the drawings, the reference numeral I indicates -generallya conventional lform of doubler-twister apparatus employed in the manufacture from a plurality of individual threads of thread, yarn, cord, and the like, hereinafter referred to simply as cord. In such operations the individual threads are plied together, treated with a suitable form of bonding agent or adhesive, and iinally twisted into a single cord. The doubler-twister apparatus I comprises, among other things, a frame 2 on which is mounted a spindle support 3. ,The support 3 carries a plurality of spindles 4 and guide bars 5 which are arranged in substantially vertical rows and disposed in spaced, mutually parallel relation so as to extend horizontally or generali normal to the spindle support 3.

Each of the spindles I has mounted thereon a supply spool 6 which provides an individual -strand or thread end for incorporation into a It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for producing a drying and burnishing effect upon a double thread asthe" cord is :being stretched and preferablyprior to the twisting operation so as to facilitate the drawing or Working in of all of the looseiibers' which may be present in the component elements of the thread- A Another object of the presentinvention is to provide a means for effecting a simultaneous drying and ironing action upon a doubled thread, yarn, cord, and the like by the application of heat so as to produce a product having a smooth finish and characterized :by a high urli-form tensile strength and embodying all of the features known to ,be desirable for incorporation of the finished doubled and twisted cord. The several threads l extend from the supply spools 6 over the guide bars 5 and are then directed to a combilling guide 8, one of which is provided for each vertical row of supply spools 8. The combining gui-de 8 is adjustably supported by a longitudinally extending rod 9 supported in any suitable fashion from the end frames 2 of the machine. Each series of strands or threads l is caused to -be gathered in plied relation by the combining guide 8 into avcomposite cord I0 which is thereafter subjected to any one `of several different processing treatments after/.Which it is twisted into a nished cord.

Inthe manufacture of a typical composite v cord, the cord l0 embodying the several plied threads 1 is customarily passed over a freely rotatably mounted roller `Il which is supported 3 by a longitudinally extending shaft I2 in such a way as to enable it to dip into a shallow trough or tank I3 containing a suitable processing liquor. It will be readily understood that this processing liquor may be any one of several dierent kinds of adhesive Imaterials or lubricating media which will facilitate the twisting together of the individual threads into the finished cord and aid in securing any protruding fiber ends or loose fibers in place. These processing treatments may serve any one of a number of dierent purposes, but that applied to the 'cord I0 in the present instance is chiefly'for the purpose of promoting a smooth burnished effect upon 'the surface of the finished cord as well s an'lenhanced tensile strength.

The cord processing apparatus of the present invention embodies a stretching mechanism I5 which receives the cord In after it has'passed over the roller II. Thestretching mechanism Il c comprises a pair of spaced generally frusto-conically shaped rollers or cones having a plurality of V-shaped notches on the peri-pheries thereof for advancing the cord I axially therealong in a plurality of generally helical turns. A swingably mounted arm I8, supported by a bracket I'I'secured to the frame 2 of the doublertwister apparatus I, serves to support the stretching mechanism I in driving relation to a drivev gear I8 mounted upon a longitudinally extending drive shaft I9 rotatably supported upon the frame 2 of the apparatus.4 The drive shaft I 9 is advantageously driven by means of suitable gearing from the same motor which operates the other elements of the doubler-twister apparatus.

A burnishing means 20 is associated with the stretching mechanism I5 and is also supported by the swingably mounted arm IB. The burnishing means 20 is advantageously disposed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 enabling it to receive the cord I ll as it traverses the stretching mechnism I5, thereby accomplishing the burnishing operation as the cord is beingstretched upon the stretching mechanism. From the stretching mechanism I5 the cord passes downwardly to a pigtail guide 2| which is secured to a channel member 22 extending longitudinally of the machine and supported by the frame members 2 thereof.

After passing through the pigtail guide 2|, the cord I0 is inserted through a traveler 23 mounted.

` for rotation upon a ring 24 forming part of the vring rail 25. The cord I0, after passing through the traveler 23, is collected in twisted form as a.

precision-wound packagel26 upon a spool or bobi bin 2'I which is rotatably mounted upon a pulley 28. The pulley 28 is rotated at high speed as by means of a belt 29 about the axis of a stub shaft 30 and rotatably supported by a bearing 3l which is in turn supported by the stationary rail mem'- ber 32 extending lengthwise of the machine and mounted upon -a plurality of brackets 33 secured to the frame members 2 of the `doubler-twisterapparatus I. 4

It will be readily understood that the twister lsection of the doubler-twister apparatus l embodies a complete assembly of the type described for each of the composite cords III produced upon the apparatus, and that the mechanism operates in a conventional manner. As `the cord passes through the traveler 23 which is caused to follow Athe ring 24, it is twisted and collected in finished form ready for use as a reinforcing cord in vuicanized rubber products. The ring' rail 25 is so mounted that it will reciprocate axially with respect to the rapidly rotating spool 21 to enable the laying up'of the package 28 of the cord I0 thereon.'

As previously indicated. the stretching mechanism I5 comprises a pair of spaced grooved rollers 34 and 35. The rollers or cones 34 and 3-5 actually take the form of truste-conical segments having a plurality of V-shaped notches or grooves I4 formed in the 'periphery thereof. The cones 34 and 35 are supported from a single end only thereof, being secured to the swingable arm It for rotation about the pins 31 and 33 by means of gears 48 and 4l which mesh with the drive gear Il when the arm Il is in its lowered position. It will be understood that the cord I0 is re- .ceived upon the cones I4 and *35 at the supported ends thereof in the grooves 35 and advanced from one to another of said grooves in the form of a helix of gradually increasing diameter, thereby insuring a positive advance of the cord from one endy to the other of the device once it is threaded up. The burnishing means 20 is advantageously supported from the swingable arm I6 as by means of the plate 39 and heldin place thereon by machine screws 40. The plate 38 is secured to the grooved guide portion 4I as bymeans of the machine screws 42. The guide portion 4I is advantageously of slightly arcuate form as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings and has upon the arcuate surface thereof a plurality ofparallel V-shaped grooves 43 which cooperate with the V-shaped grooves 36 of the cones 34 and 35 of the stretching mechanism I5 to support the cord I0 which is discharged froml the cone 34 and passed to the cone 35. It will be readily understood that the burnishing means 20 may be disposed in any desired position with respect to the cones 34 and 35 of the stretching mechanism I5 Just as long as it is enabled to contact a substantial portion of the over-all length of the cord In while it is being stretched 'upon the stretching mechanism.

The guide portion 4I of the burnishing means 2n is adapted to be heated as by means of an electrical heating element 44 inserted in a bore 45 formed therein and extending substantially at right angles to the V-shaped grooves 43 in the arcuate surface of the guide portion. The heating element 44 is supplied with electrical current from a suitable source by means of the electrical conductors 46 and 41. Thus, it will be understood that the guide portion 4I is` heated electrically to enable it to dry and produce the desired burnishing eiect upon the cord II) as it passes through the V-shaped grooves 43 in its arcuate surface and in its path from the cone 34 to the cone 35 of the stretching mechanism I5.

I'he finished cord, collected in the form of a precision-wound package 25, is thus dried and burnished, presenting a smooth surface free from projecting fibers or filaments comprising the threads 'I of which it is made up. The product is highly advantageous for use in the manufacture of vulcanized rubber products which require the incorporation of reinforcing elements therein. The heated guide portion 4I of the burnishing means 20 thus accomplishes the purpose of drying the processing liquor applied to the composite cord III by the roller I I as well as the desired iron- -ing eiect which produces the smooth outer suramsn:

from the spirit or scope of the invention. It has already been indicated that the burnishing.

means 20 may be disposed in any of several different positions with respect to the cones Il and 35 of the stretching mechanism l5 without materially affecting its operation or eifectiveness, it being essential that only a portion of the cord i0 pass over its surface in the course of the stretching operation.

While in accordance .with the Patent Statutes one bestknown embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described lin detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention ls not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In cord processing apparatus, a stretching device for advancing cord generally in the form of a helix embodying a plurality of turns of progressively increasing circumference; guide means disposed in the path of the cord upon the stretching device for the reception of at least one turn of the cord as it traverses the stretching device; and means for heating the guide means.

2. In cord processing apparatus, a stretching A device adapted to receive the cord and advance the same in a plurality of generally helical turns of progressively increasing diameter; guide means disposed in the path of the cord upon the. stretching device for the reception therein o! 80 stretching device for cord and the like having a.

rollers, burnishing means associated with the stretching device, said burnishing means having a plurality of grooves corresponding generally to 6 those of the rollers, and means imparting heat to the burnishing means.

4. Cord processing apparatusy comprising a pair of spaced frusto-conically shaped grooved rollers, each of said grooves supporting a turn of cord; burnishing means disposed in the path of the cord over the stretching -device for contact therewith as it is stretched; andl means for heating the burnishing means.

5. Cord processing apparatus comprising a stretching device for cord and the like having a pair of spaced frusto-conically shaped grooved rollers, each of said grooves supporting a turn of cord; burnishing means disposed in the path of the cord in it-s passage between the rollers 'of the stretching device, said burnishing means having a number of grooves corresponding substantially to that of the stretching device in each of which grooves a turn of the cord is received as it passes from one to the other of the rollers of the stretching device in its path of travel thereon; and means heating the burnishing means. v

LINDSAY S. HALL.

RAYMOND E. SOLLIDAX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES vPATENTS Number Name Date 2,256,150 Mallory Sept. 16, 1941 2,310,951 Greene Feb. 16, 1943 2,336,100 Jacque Dec. 7, 1943 2,365,069 Grimes, Sr. Dec. 12, 1944 2,400,325 Winslow May 14, 1946 3,407,358 Whisnant Sept. 10, 1946 

